Water  heater



Augo 9 1926. Y J. P. MQRLEY ET AL WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 24, 1925 s Sheets-Sheet 1 J. P. MGRLEY ET AL WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 24. 1923 5 Sheets-sheet 2 Aug 24 1926 J. P. MQRLEY ET AL WATER HEATER Filed Jan. 24 1923 iii 5, 275%:

Patented Aug. 24, 1926.

UNI T iseaasz PATENT Q 16E JAMES. 12. MOBLETZ, 0F momma TY; AND FEE ma s. or 203m NDI NA, ASSIGNORS TO BASTIAN-MOBLEY 00., OF, LA FORTE, INDIANA, A CORPORATION OF InpIaNA.

WATER HEATER- Amman fi ara a 24, 1323. s ia No". 14,575. I

The invention relates to water heaters for'heating, and supplying water in homes and other places where hot water isrequ'ired.

The invention is illustrated as used in connection with a combined; hot water boiler and heater, in which the tank or boiler is arranged above the cqinbustion chamber of the heater.

The water heaterot the present application is similar in sonie'respectsto the water heater shown anddeseribed in thecopending application of Fred WV. Birtch, Serial Nuinber 570,738, filed J ne 24;; 1922', to which application reference is made,

The invention relates particularly. to a water spreader, which is preferably cast in.- tegrally and which is connected in a'rnanner'to' permit water to How therethrough during its circulation. The water in the spreader is subjected to heat troin the burner therebelow and the water is. retained in the main heating chamber and intake passages of the spreader unti l it'is heated sufliciently to. cause it to new therefrom 'to the upper portion of the boiler, from which it may be drawn for use, as 'desired.

i In the copendingfapplication ot-Ered, Birtch, above referred to, a, spreader is illustrated whicheinpioyes passages for the. cold water which introduces the waterv into, a water heating chamber of the spreader, The

passages are arranged so that. one end of each oftheinterininates so as to deliver the water to be heated, into the water heating, chainber adjacent the upper portion of the chamber and into the heated Water contained in upper. portion of this chamber. i i

The present invention has for its general objects to improve the efficiency of; the spreader, for economy of fuel, consumption, increaseof heat-rise one single traverse of the raw water through thespreader, and activity of circulatory, action; as well as to attain a simple, des rable and econoinical aconstruction that may be made with facility as a single casting requiring inerely the addition of ordinary piping to accommodate its installation in connection wi h the boiler.

To the first stated end, one more specific object otthis invention is to provide an improved construction for delivering the water into the heating chamber, and particularly so that the inflowing water will be delivered to the lower pertion of sue-h chant body is thus subjected to the high heatiinpinging upon the bottom wall otthe spreader adjacent the center thereof. A correlated object of the invention isto provide a'spreader which has 'o1ie.or".1 iore water-intake passageways that emanate-en'- wardly along the spreader, for discharge of the inflewing water into the liiaiirlieatiiig chamberas described,'one w all of eaeh s uch downwardly extending p ssage in direct contact with the heat einanatiiig from burner. Preferably such wall is a porti n, of he wn a dly, 'bu g d pa t splli lioidal bett m. Wal of th sri i ie t is of only relatively sinallareaas compared with the reinaiiiingfarea or" that bottoiniylill which forms part' of the boundary ot' the n ain heating chamber. By such arrangeinent, manifestly, the" flow tendency in the ,descendinq intake passage, under the, influen'ce of the strong heat"i 1npi iging'on the t m w l i ei l be quit ei e t n ency to rise'in such passage (rather than d scend s r qu red y t d s n d i tion) and the Water in traverse through such passageway is substantially raised .teinperatn're. yet the preponderating effect ofthe still-hotter water body in the heating chani 'ber cemi e spr p d lt 'e l l iil iti l i a d 9? 11. 3 elat v mall am nt, O Water is in circulatory traverse throughthe passage a at ny net m an ili l very o he iiflorv ng. 'Wat i he central bot-tent portion of the. heating chanther as aboye described, the circulation is very active and the time thatis required to sebum q e a h h ris i empera ur i A rther o je a the v n ion f is arrange the entire extent or the inflow passages and connections arinoniousily with this i tiils' a S bstantia p eheatin and reverse-flow tendeney oi": the infioy ing water, yet to afford to the heating chainber a very-large preponderance or" "efliect'ye h ing surface and to ininirnize the chilling eff he nf wi ewat r up i hat p91?- tion of the waterbody which, in the niain heating chamber, has attained its maximuin temperaturef I v t s an a ject o the in en e #19 Prov de a water heater of circular outline having no mechanical restrictions that tend to prevent free circulation of the water under the action of the heat which will effectively, economically, and rapidly heat the water which will assist in causing the constant circulation of the water; which will eliminate the necessity for the use of a heating coil; which will reduce the clogging due to the accumulation of lime, sediment, and other matter to a minimum, and which-will also reduce the cost and expense of manufacture, installation, and operation of the water heat-er.

The invention will be explained and more readily understood when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which various embodiments of which the invention is susceptible are illustrated, it being, therefore, obvious that various other modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the appended claims forming a part hereof.

In the drawings Figure 1. is a vertical, longitudinal section of a hotwater tank having a water spreader embodying the invention associated therewith and illustrating a burner cooperatively arranged with respect thereto.

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the tank shown in Figure 1.

Figure?) is a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4: is a vertical section of the spreader illustrated in Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Figure 4.

Figure 6 is a plan view of the structure shown in Figures 4t and 5.

Figure 7 is a section on line 7-7 of Figure 4:.

Figure 8 is a sectional view similar to Figure t, showingone modified arrangement employing a single water passage in the spreader.

Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of still another modified arrangement, showing the cold water inlets to the heating chamber arranged eXteriorly of the spreader.

Figure 10 is a bottom plan view of another modified arrangement, showing the water inlets arranged exteriorly of the spreader and arranged to produce spiral outlines.

Figure 11 is a plan view of a fragment of the structure illustrated in Figure 9.

In the structure illustrated in the drawings the water spreader is shown as associated. with a hot water tank or boiler 10. The lower portion of the tank 10 is constructed to provide a housing or combustion chamber 11, in which the burner 12 and the water spreader, generally designated 13, are arranged. The burner 12 may be of any suitable construction which will readily burn gas, oil, or other desirable fuel. The combustion chamber 11 is provided with a flue 14, through which the burnt gases may escape and pass from the room in which the tank is placed. The flue, or passage, is or set with relation-to the burner and spreader, so that the burn-er and spreader may be arranged concentrically within the heating chamber. This arrangement permits the flame and heat emanatin from the burner of the heater to be equally distributed over the area of the bottom of the tank, which adds to the efficiency of the structure, and it also permits the flue to pass through the interior of the tank, so that the heated gases contained in the flue contribute their heat to the water in the tank. The lower portion of the tank is also provided with a door 15, whereby access may be had to the various devices arranged within the chamber 11.

The upper portion of the tankor boiler 10 provides a means in which the water to be heated may be confine-d, and to which and from which the water may be supplied and discharged, respectively. For the purpose of supplying and discharging the water, the upper portion of the tank 10 is provided with a cold water inlet- 16 and a hot water outlet 17. The inlet and outlet connections are of the usual construction in tanks of this character, and, therefore, a detailed description thereof is unnecessary.

The tank 10 is provided with a separating and dividing wall or partition 18, which separates the combustion chamber 11 from the upper portion of the tank in which water to be heated is confined. The wall 18 is apertured at 19 and is provided with a collar 20 having internal screw threads. The apertures 19 and the collar 20 are centrally arranged in the dividing wall 18 and pro vide a means whereby the water spreader 13 may be cooperatively associated with the tank.

To permit the association of the water spreader with the apertured portion of the partition 18, the water spreader is provided with the externally threaded, tubular e3;- tension 21.

The extension 21 is threaded into the aperture 19, and provides a connection between the water spreader and the interior of the tank 10. The tubular extension 21 permits the water to be heated to descend from the tank 10 through the two cold water intake passages 22 to the heating chamber 28 of the water spreader 13, in which it will be heated. The cold water intakev passages 22 are disposed diametrically opposite each other. in the heating chamber -8 within the spreader causes the heated water to travel towards the upper portion of the chamber 23 and ascend therefrom through the circulating pipe 24 into the interior of the water The action of the heat on the water tank.

' her 10.

It'will heno'ted that the di'ametrically disposed cold Water intake passages 22 are arranged so that their discharge ends, or t-hoseends thereofwhich communicate with the interior of the chamber 23, in which hot water is located until sui'ficiently heated,

-tion of this chamber.

It is manifest that a spreader constructed in this manner will discharge only arrelatively small amount of cold water intothe hot water chamber 23, and, by reason of the tact that the wateris discharged into the coolest portion of thewater confined in this chamber anddirected toward the wall or" this chamber which is su'hj ectedto the heat from the burner, the --temperature'of the heated water will not he materially reduced, which will thus add to the eiliciency of the structure 'and permit a given volume of water to be heated in a relatively short period of time. r

The hot water chamber 23 is provided with a threaded opening25, into which the circulating pipe 24 is threaded. The vaction of the heat on the water in the heating chamber 23 within the spreader 13 causes the heated waterto ascend in the circulatingpipe 24 and be discharged therefrom into the interior ofthe water heater cham- The lower, convex wall 26 of the water spreader is formed of relatively thin material, is curved or dished, as indicated,

and will thus provide an increased surface, against which the flame, of the burner may act, and thereby heat a-given volume of water very rapidly. The water spreader is constructed in such a'manner that theupper portion of the cold water intakepassages 22 extend above the top of the chamber 23 as at 22.

it will be noted, by referring to Figure 1,that the tubular extension 21 and the circulation pipe 24,-which is threaded into the aperture 25, are arranged concentrically and in'spaced relation to eachother, which permits the relatively cold waterto pass downward in said tubular extension 21 out-.

side the circulation pipe 24 in its travel from the interior of the tank through the passages 22 into the heating chamber 23 of th water spreader. This arrangement affords various advantages, assisting in reducing the time ortperiod necessary in heating given amount ioi water-and, in addition,

reduces the labor necessary when the parts are to be associated with or disconnected fronreach other. e

"The convex wall 260i t-he'spre'ader 18 is provided with'an extension 27, which is threaded to receive a drain pipe 28, whereby I the water compartment oi the tank 10 and the water spreader 13 may be drained of any water contained therein. The burner 1.2 is provided with a'slot 29 for the reception 01 the vertical portion of the drain pipe .28, which permits the burner to be arranged directly beneath the water spreader 13. Gas, "or other fuel, is supplied to the burner by the supply pipe 30, which is provided with the usual fittings. i

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 8 the water spreader shown sub stantially corresponds with that illustrated in Figures 1 to 7, differing, however, in that one oi the cold water intalre passages is eliminated. In this modified structure, a single cold water intake passage 81 communicates at one end with the tubular eXtension '32 and has its opposite end 83arranged so that it will discharge the 'relatively cold water to the bottom of the heating chamber 34 in a manner identical with that described in connection with the spreader or the water heater shown in Figures 1 to'7. The upper 'wa-ll of the-chamber 34, which latter is increased in size somewhat because of the omission of the cold water passage'from one side thereof, is provided with a threaded aperture 35 for the reception ofa circulating pipe similar to that designated24 in igure 1. In thls modified structure the "co-ld water passage has a portion thereof 86,

arranged eXteriorly or the chamber 34. The discharge end of the passage 83 terminates within the chamber 84. A drain connection 37 is provided, which is similar to that previously described in connection with the structure shown inl igures 1 to 7 V In the structures illustrated in Figures Jill *necte-d with a tubular extension 44 which is threaded to permit of the association of the spreader with the wall 18 of the hot water "tank 10.

fromthe tubular extension 44 to'helow the "wall ot the chamber 88. This wall 40 is apertured, as indicated at 45 and 46, to permit the relatively incoming cool water, wliich'passes through the passages 42 and 43, to he introduced into the lower portion o ffthe chamber 38 and also into the lower ice The passages 42 and '43 extend portion of the heated water in the heating chamber. This structure is provided with a drain connection 47 similar to that previously described in connection with the structure shown in Figures 1 to 7.

In the modified arrangement illustrated in Figure 10 the cold water passages are also arranged exteriorly of the water chamber of the spreader but differ in their outlines from the structure, illustrated in Figure 9. In this last named structure two passages 4-8 and 49 are employed, which are arranged wholly exteriorly of the walls forming the chamber of the spreader. The passages L8 and lf) preferably curved or spiralled on the bottom wall 50 in the manner illustrated and terminate at the bottom of the spreader in a com nunica-tion with the interior of the spreader through the medium of the openings 51 and 52 (shown in dotted lines) which permit the water to pass through the passages 48 and l9 from the tank 10 to also allow the relatively cool water to be intro duced in the lower portion of the heating chamber of this structure. 7

From the foregoing description it is evident that an arrangement is provided whereby the relatively cool water entering the heating chamber of the spreader will be caused to be introduced into the lower portion of the chamber into the zone of the relatively cool water contained in this chamber and will be directed toward the wall of this chamber which is in direct contact with the flame emanating from the burner. This method of introducing the water has been found to materially reduce the time necessary for heating a given quantity of water. lit is evident that the relatively cool water intronuced into the body of water to be heated is introduced into that portion thereof which is the coolest, thus differing from the structure illustrated in the copending application hereinbefore referred to, in which structure the relatively cool water is permitted to be introduced into the hot water heating chamber of the spreader at a point adjacent the hottest portion of the water confined in thischamber.

lVhile various forms of water spreaders employing one or two water intake passages of the types illustrated have been shown and referred to, it will be readily understood that the invention is not to be lim ted to the particular forms or numbers of these water intake passages, but it will be understood that water intake passages of varying forms and in varying numbers may be emploved in the water spreader.

Having thus described the invention, what we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

i. A water spreader having a bottom surface tobe directly exposed to the flame, a portion of said surface downsloping from its margin toward its center, said spreader having other walls which, together with said bottom, bound a main heating chamber having a hot water outlet from its upper portion, and also bound a cold water intake passage, said intake passage extending downwardly and inwardly, following the down-sloping portion of the bottom wall, and at its lower end opening into the main heating chamber adjacent the central bottom portion of the latter.

2. A water spreader wherein the walls are a unitary casting, having a bottom wall to receive heat impingement, and formed with a downslope from margin to center, other walls which, to ether with a minor fractional portion of said bottom wall bound a cold-water intake passage which extends downwardly and inwardly along said bottom wall, and additional walls which, together with the remainder of the bottom wall, bound a main heating chamber having a top outlet opening, and into the central bottom portion of which chamber the intake passage opens.

3. A water spreader having a heating chamber with a top hot water outlet and at fording a relatively large wall surface as an exterior wall of the structure, and having an intake passage following a portion of the wall of said chamber and affording a much smaller outside-wall area, a portion of said inlet passage extending downwardly along a wall of said chamber which is directly ex posed to flame impingement, the outside wall of said passage, throughout the stated portion, being directly exposed to flameimpingement.

a. A structure as set for h in claim 3, wherein the intake passage extends outwardly across the top wall of said chamber, and downwardly and inwardly across the bottom surface of said chamber, and opens to said chamber at the bottom thereof and adjacent its center.

5. A water spreader having a heating chamber provided with a hot water outlet adjacent the center of its top, and an in take passage with a receptive orifice surrounding said outward opening and its de livery end communicating with the lower portion of said chamber adjacent the center of the latter, said intake passage extending from said orifice outwardly across the top portion of said chamber and downwardly and inwardly along the bottom of said chamber, a wall of said downwardlyvand inwardly extending portion being exposed directly to heat impingement, and said chamber having a bottom wall of much greater area than the stated portion of the intake passage also exposed directly to heat impingement.

6. A water spreader having means whereby it may be supported. relatively to a water tank in which water to be heated is confined, a spreader having a chamber with part of its bottom surface exposed for heatimpingement, a connection through which water to be heated must flow before reaching the chamber, a connection through which the heated water is discharged from the chamber, said lastmentioned connection being arranged within the first-mentioned connec tion, and a tubular passage leading outwardly from the first-mentioned connection, and thence inwardly and terminating in the lower portion of the chamber, said tubular passage affording an exteriorly exposed surface of much smaller area than the exterior-- ly exposed surface of the chamber.

7. A water spreader having means whereby it may be supported relatively to a water tank in which the water to be heated is con fined, said spreader having a heating chamber, a connection through which water to be heated will flow before reaching the chai her, a connection through which the heated water is discharged from the chamber, a tubular passage extending from said firstmentioned connection outwardly across the top of the chamber and thence downwardly and inwardly across the bottom of the chamber and terminating in the lower portion of said chamber, said passage, on the under side of the spreader, affording an exterior surface to receive direct impingement of heat, which surface is much smaller than the bottom exposed surface of the heating chamber.

8. A water spreader having means whereby it may be supported relatively to a water tank, said spreader having a chamber, a connection between the tank and the spreader for water inflow, a discharge connection from the top of the spreader to the tank, and a plurality of tubular passages communicating with the first-mentioned connection at their upper ends, and at their lower ends communicating with the central bottom portion of said chamber, portions of said passages being extended downwardly along the bottom of said chamber, and affording area for direct impingement of the flame much smaller than the bottom area of the chamber so exposed to the flame.

9. A water spreader having a relatively large chamber with a wall surface for direct exposure to a flame, an outlet connection from the upper portion of said chamber, and a tubular intake passage opening at its lower end to the lower portion of said chamber, said tubular passage extending downwardly along the flame-receptive surface of said chamber, and itself exposing to the flame a wall area much smaller than the exposed wall area of said chamber.

10. A water spreader having a heating chamber provided in its upper portion with a hot water outlet, a connection through which water may flow before reaching the chamber disposed above the top of said chamber, and an intake passage opening at its upper receptive end to said connection,

is overlain by the lower portion of the in-.

take passage.

11. A water spreader formed in a single casting with walls bounding respectively a heating chamber and an intake passage, said intake passage having a delivery opening to said chamber adjacent the central bottom portion of the latter, and said intake passage having a receptive orifice above said chamber adjacent the center of the latter, a portion of the wall of said intake passage being afforded by the bottom wall of the spreader and extending downwardly and in wardly across the latter to receive direct impingement of the heat applied to said spreader, the portion of said bottom wall of the spreader bounding the said passage being much smaller than the portion of such wall bounding the bottom of the chamber.

12. A structure as defined in claim 11, wherein the upper portion of the intake passage is formed by walls projecting above the top wall of said chamber, and the downwardly extending lower portion of said passage being formed by walls lying within the body of the spreader.

In witness whereof, we hereunto subscribe our names this 18 day of January, A. D., 1923.

JAMES P. MORLEY. FRED E. BIRTCH. 

